🇬🇦GabonCentral Africa
Gabon National Assembly President meets with UN Special Representative and local oil industry leader
via Gabon Review3 min read
On April 24, at the Léon Mba Palace, Michel Régis Onanga Ndiaye, President of the National Assembly, held successive meetings with Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, and Charles Tchen, President of the Convention of Gabonese Indigenous Oil Companies Cepag. The discussions focused on strategic dialogue and strengthening partnerships. The first meeting with the head of the United Nations Office to the African Union addressed regional security and institutional challenges, and cooperation between Gabon and the UN system. Onanga-Anyanga emphasized the UN's commitment to supporting stability, governance, and development efforts in Gabon, highlighting the country's key role in Central Africa. He also stressed the importance of dialogue with national institutions, particularly parliaments, for effective public policies. Onanga Ndiaye affirmed Gabon's commitment to constructive cooperation with the UN for peace and progress in the sub-region. The second meeting with Charles Tchen centered on economic issues and the role of national actors in the oil sector. Tchen presented Cepag's ambitions, an organization founded in 2023 to promote local content in the oil industry. Its goal is to enable Gabonese companies to fully participate in the oil sector through improved market access, tailored support, training, governance strengthening, and tender preparation. Cepag also advocates for regulatory changes to facilitate national operators' access to ex
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Gabon Review.
Must ReadAli Akbar Onanga Y'Obégué, Secretary-General of the Gabonese Democratic Party, former minister, and doctor of law, has criticized the protocol signed at the Élysée Palace, which postpones the local processing of manganese to 2031 and reduces the target from two million to 700,000 tons annually. He attributes the situation to the President's entourage for allowing an untenable deadline and to French diplomacy for choosing a method he describes as "humiliating." Onanga Y'Obégué argues that while the presidential ambition was legitimate and the delay inevitable, the method used "honors neither party." He states that a state visit is not the appropriate setting to publicly force a partner to retract a firmly held position. The former minister believes the 2029 target for local manganese processing was never industrially realistic, citing energy deficits, Transgabonese railway saturation, and engineering delays as known issues. He questions why advisors around the President supported such an ambitious timeline without ensuring the state apparatus could meet it, emphasizing that advisors should protect the President's authority rather than encourage unrealistic commitments. Onanga Y'Obégué further asserts that France knew the 2029 deadline was impossible and would eventually secure a delay. He suggests alternative diplomatic approaches, such as a monitoring committee or negotiated postponement, would have achieved the same industrial and legal results without the negative political
Michel Djombo, the Congolese Minister of Industrial Development, visited Gabon's Nkok Special Investment Zone SIZ on July 23 to assess its maturity. This visit is part of Congo's efforts to develop two similar zones with the operator Arise IIP. Established in 2012, the Nkok SIZ is recognized as a regional model for industrial development, attracting investments, creating jobs, and facilitating skills transfer. The institutional framework of the zone, including the role of Gabon Special Economic Zone SA and the administrative authority led by Serge Samy Biveghe, was presented to the Congolese delegation. The one-stop shop, which integrates 24 state services to simplify administrative procedures and improve the business environment, particularly drew attention. Djombo noted the importance of understanding the one-stop shop's operation and the state's involvement in attracting investments. The delegation also visited industrial units specializing in wood processing, such as Tropical Forest and Chanta Group, which serve as an inspiration for Pointe-Noire. Djombo expressed satisfaction with the insights gained and the useful exchanges, highlighting the value of experience sharing between the two countries. Gaurav Aggarwal, CEO of GSEZ, emphasized that the Nkok SIZ's success is built on a strong public-private partnership, with the one-stop shop being crucial for supporting investors. The Nkok SIZ features integrated infrastructure, including a 70 MW autonomous energy supply, banki
Sébastien Migné, recently appointed head coach of Gabon's national football team, the Panthers, has set an ambitious goal: to qualify the team for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2030. Arriving in Libreville on July 23, Migné outlined his long-term vision, which extends beyond immediate sporting events. He emphasized that achieving this historic qualification will require a period of transition, focusing on stabilizing the team while preparing for the future. Migné acknowledged the need to motivate the current generation of players and integrate new talent. He stressed that the team's resurgence cannot be achieved by the technical staff alone, calling for the mobilization of all stakeholders in Gabonese football, including leaders, staff, players, and the public, to restore the Panthers' continental standing. Migné also expressed satisfaction with the anticipated appointment of Alain Giresse as the national technical director. He highlighted Giresse's extensive experience with Gabonese football, having previously coached the Panthers from 2006 to 2010, and believes this collaboration will be a significant asset in achieving their shared objective. Migné stated that this partnership of skills is crucial, as he cannot accomplish the project alone. His roadmap for the next four years involves gradually rebuilding the Panthers, enhancing their competitiveness in Africa, and creating the conditions for a historic 2030 World Cup qualification.